Digital museum, Miyawaki model forest coming up at Kanakakunnu Palace

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 5: In good news to tourists, history enthusiasts and nature buffs, Kerala Tourism has launched projects to set up a digital museum and raise a Miyawaki model forest at the Kanakakunnu Palace in the heart of the state capital.

While launching both the projects at a function at Kanakakunnu Palace on Monday, Minister for Co-operation, Tourism and Devaswom, Kadakampally Surendran, mooted the idea of formulating a Travancore Heritage plan, on the lines of the Muziris, Alappuzha and Thalassery heritage projects.

The Minister said Miyawaki model forest, coming up at five cents on the Suryakanthi grounds, will be replicated in all major tourist centres of the state. The two schemes underscore the state’s policy of promoting tourism by preserving nature and heritage.

In her address, Ms Rani George, Secretary, Tourism, said the digital museum will showcase the culture of Travancore and Kerala. P Bala Kiran, Director, Tourism, said world-class technology has gone into the concept of the digital museum.

Palayam Rajan, Councillor, Corporation, Thiruvananthapuram, presided over both the functions. The Museum is part of works worth Rs 8.94 crore sanctioned to strengthen and preserve the heritage of Kanakakunnu Palace, a bustling cultural hub known for its aesthetically crafted architecture located at the core of a lush green mound.

Even as the central theme of the museum is political and social history of Travancore, it will shed light on the general history of Kerala, its inclusive culture, unique religious traditions and alluring landscapes.

It will also encapsulate an array of illustrations and descriptions on spices, for which Kerala has been renowned the world over since ancient days, Ayurvedic tradition and the ethnic knowledge of herbs and medicines. The museum will take the visitors to a virtual tour down the centuries by aid of project mapping, by which the history of Travancore in particular and diverse aspects of Kerala’s culture will be communicated to the visitors.

The rare audio-visual experience will be topped with a sound-and-light show in all evenings. The Government has given administrative sanction of Rs 4.90 crore for setting up the museum and Rs 1 crore for its operation and maintenance. The Government has also accorded administrative sanction for Rs 2.90 crore for the heritage preserving works of the palace. The work will be executed by Uralunglal Labour Contract Co-operative Society (ULCCS). UNI